CHAPTER 576: CHAPTER 567: NICHOLAS I IS PROBABLY CRAZY

"Advisor Jomini, I respect your military expertise as a military advisor, but I’m afraid I find it difficult to agree with the plan you’ve devised!" Nicholas I diplomatically said to Jomini.

Even though Nicholas I spoke diplomatically, Jomini could still sense his resolute attitude.

I knew it; he definitely wouldn’t agree to this plan! Jomini thought to himself.

Although Nicholas I’s rejection was within Jomini’s expectations, he couldn’t help feeling somewhat disappointed.

However, Nicholas I’s rejection of his plan was also understandable; no monarch would willingly watch their territory being invaded by foreign enemies, let alone the age-old rival, the French Empire.

As the supreme ruler of the Russian Empire, the rights he possessed were equal to the obligations he had to shoulder. If he couldn’t bring victory to his subjects (even a false victory would suffice), then only death awaited him.

The Russian Empire didn’t just inherit the title of "Roman" Empire but also the coup system of the Roman Empire’s Imperial Guard.

[PS: Incidentally, the "greener" Ottoman Empire also inherited this coup system, and even more absurdly so than the Russian Empire. Later on, the Yeniceri could arbitrarily depose the Ottoman Sultan, akin to the warlord soldiers of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.]

Because he couldn’t persuade Nicholas I on his own, Jomini placed his hopes on his student, hoping he could help convince Nicholas I to agree to the plan. Thus, Jomini shifted his gaze to his student, Alexander.

Seeing Jomini’s implied gaze, Alexander II quickly asked the nearby Nicholas I: "Father! I think Advisor Jomini’s plan is great! Why do you disagree with this plan?"

Nicholas I glanced at Jomini, then at the adjacent Alexander II, his eyes revealing a hint of disappointment: "Jomini’s contraction plan is indeed a good one, but I cannot let Gorchakov execute this plan! Doing so would affect our morale!"

"Back in Moscow..." replied Alexander II, who hadn’t experienced the Napoleonic Wars, to Nicholas I.

"You only know about the Battle of Moscow, where we willingly abandoned and retreated, but you don’t realize the impact on our army’s morale after the retreat... If it weren’t for Marshal Kutuzov, our army..." Nicholas I replied to Alexander II with lingering fear, then pointed to Jomini and said to Alexander II, "If you don’t believe me, you can ask Advisor Jomini!"

Alexander II turned his gaze to Jomini, who slowly nodded, saying, "Your Majesty, you are correct! The retreat after the Battle of Moscow indeed dealt a heavy blow to our morale, but Crimea is not Moscow! We need not blindly relate it to Moscow. From a military perspective, even if the entire Crimea Peninsula were lost, it wouldn’t fundamentally affect the Russian Empire. Losing Sevastopol is nothing to be concerned about!"

"Advisor Jomini, from a military standpoint, you’re absolutely correct!" Nicholas I first agreed with Jomini’s view, then refuted him, saying, "But what about politically? Wouldn’t the loss of Sevastopol have a significant impact on us?"

"Your Majesty, I don’t believe the impact would be too significant!" Jomini responded to Nicholas I.

"Not too significant?" Nicholas I chuckled bitterly, shook his head, and sighed, "Advisor Jomini, do you know how the English and French newspapers are portraying Sevastopol?"

Jomini shook his head, having been in the General Staff Department since the war began, he hadn’t really paid attention to English and French newspapers.

"They’ve depicted the occupation of Sevastopol as a decisive battle, as if seizing Sevastopol would immediately lead to the collapse of the entire Russian Empire!" Nicholas I exaggeratedly told Jomini.

"Your Majesty, they’re just doing this to get their people to support this war more!" Jomini comforted Nicholas I and said, "If they didn’t say this, their people wouldn’t support them continuing the fight. However, the enthusiasm of the subjects will fade over time, and that’s when we can strike back!"

"But, even in St. Petersburg, many people are willing to believe their propaganda!" Nicholas I said with a hint of anguish: "They also think that the Russian Empire’s troops on the southern front have now suffered a heavy blow, and it’s estimated that it won’t be long before the Allies come charging in!"

"What!" Jomini showed a shocked expression on his face, unable to imagine that people in St. Petersburg would be willing to believe such nonsense: "Your Majesty, St. Petersburg is thousands of kilometers away from Sevastopol!"

"Yes!! Several thousand kilometers!" Nicholas I sighed: "But those who believe in the English and French newspapers don’t realize the distance from St. Petersburg! They think Sevastopol is only 200–300 Russian miles away from Moscow! The English and French armies could easily attack Moscow. If our troops choose to defend decisively, then this panic might spread rapidly throughout St. Petersburg! At that point, we might..." You understand my meaning, don’t you, Advisor Jomini!"

After hearing Nicholas I’s response, Jomini once again realized his misconception; not everyone knew the entirety of the Russian Empire like he did. Many native St. Petersburg people may never have left St. Petersburg their whole lives, leading to a misunderstanding of Sevastopol.

Of course, this misunderstanding is not only in the Russian Empire but also in France and Britain.

Many French and Britons similarly think that Sevastopol is close to Moscow, and their armies are marching towards Moscow.

"Father, we can spread the news about advancing internally to suppress panic and then order the troops to hold firm!" Alexander II suggested.

"Then how do you plan to stop the newspapers from Britain and France from entering the Russian Empire? Battle reports can deceive, but the front line cannot!" Nicholas I retorted.

"Restrict the vessels traveling in the Baltic Sea!" Alexander II said to Nicholas I, "Also, inspect every ship entering the port!"

"That would be of no use!" Nicholas I shook his head in response to Alexander II, "It would also disrupt our already scarce trade!"

Since Britain and France tightened Baltic trade, fewer ships headed to the Russian Empire, which led to dwindling fur and asphalt exports from St. Petersburg, and decreased external funds.

If port inspections are announced, it will dissuade another wave of merchant ships.

Nicholas I was unwilling to engage in such transactions. Even though he knew some ships had impure intentions, he could only turn a blind eye.

"Your Majesty, I believe you..."

Before Jomini could finish speaking, Nicholas I quickly interjected, "Of course! These reasons may seem far-fetched to you, but don’t forget, I am the ruler of this country!"

When Nicholas I said this, Jomini understood that his plan was unlikely to be approved.

The Russian Empire, in terms of hard strength, couldn’t compete with the British and French Armies. Besides holding firm to wear down the Anglo-French Alliance’s morale and waiting for an opportunity to counterattack, he didn’t know what method could win.

"Advisor Jomini, I need a plan for an offensive!" Nicholas I requested of Jomini.

"Your Majesty, I can only tell you, I will do my utmost to formulate this plan!" Jomini said to Nicholas I.

"Just do your best!" Nicholas I knew that attacking England and France was practically impossible, but without an attack, how could he face the Slavs (Pogokin) who supported him?

Almost becoming an Eastern Orthodox zealot, Nicholas I would never allow Anglo-French Armies to remain in Crimea; he had to drive them out and raise the Slav banner over Constantinople!

[Nicholas I is likely mad]

...

Time flew by, quickly bringing us to June 22.

Two days remained until the French military parade, and in such a clear morning, a cavalry unit of nearly a hundred men lined up in two rows appeared at the main entrance of Tuileries Palace, ready and waiting.

Passersby gazed curiously at the cavalry unit by the gate, most not understanding why the cavalry unit was at Tuileries Palace’s door.

Could it be that their Emperor was about to embark on a journey?

At around 9 o’clock, Jerome Bonaparte appeared at the gate of Tuileries Palace, dressed in military attire, donning a Napoleon Hat, looking every bit the monarch atop a white warhorse. Behind him was an open-top, gilded carriage draped with thin veils.

Standing at the gate, the Dragoons mounted their horses upon seeing their monarch appear, surrounding Jerome Bonaparte and the gilded carriage.

"Forward!"

General Nier, acting as the temporary cavalry commander, shouted loudly, and the entire unit set off toward the Paris Railway Station.

At the same time, residents near Paris City Hall gathered around Town Hall Square, summoned by Paris City Government.

As they wondered why Paris City Hall called them here, Seine Province Governor Osman appeared on Town Hall Square and conveyed an exciting message to the nearby residents.

"Dear residents of Paris! You’ve been gathered at Paris City Hall today to hear joyful news: Emperor Joseph Franz of the Austrian Empire, along with his fiancée Elizabeth, is en route to Paris at His Majesty Napoleon’s invitation!"